The Observatory aims to promote the exchange of information on academic criminology programs worldwide, in particular by setting up an interactive platform where information on criminology programs is being collected and made available for consultation. The Observatory is not a commercial enterprise and provides its services for free to all interested parties.
Launched in September 2009, the Observatory is intended to become fully operative by early 2011, first by collecting data on European criminology programs and at a later stage on those offered in other parts of the world. It will offer its services in English, French and Spanish.
The Observatory
- Operates under the auspices of the International Society for Criminology
- Was set up with the help of the Leuven Institute of Criminology (LINC), K.U.Leuven.
- Receives advice from supporting institutions, such as the European Society of Criminology, the International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation and the American Society of Criminology. Representatives of these institutions will soon be called to compose the Observatory Advisory Committee.
- Is guided by an expert group, which sets out the overall policy of the Observatory and ensures the quality of the information published on the website.
- Is composed of participating institutions, that is, all institutions publishing data on their academic criminology programs on the Observatory website.
- Is currently hosted by the Leuven Institute of Criminology (LINC), K.U. Leuven, which functions as the Observatory secretariat. From September 2011 onwards, the Université de Liège will function as the Observatory secretariat.